Following a decisive 30-minute phone call between the two leaders on February 2, 2026, the United States has officially reduced its reciprocal tariff rate on India from 25&#37 to 18&#37, effective immediately. This move effectively scraps the 25&#37 "punitive duty" previously linked to India’s Russian oil purchases, signaling a major de-escalation in trade tensions. However, the deal comes with explosive claims from the White House. President Trump stated on Truth Social that PM Modi has agreed to HALT all future purchases of Russian oil, pivoting instead toward US and potentially Venezuelan energy. While PM Modi hailed the tariff cut as a victory for "Made in India," the Indian side has yet to explicitly confirm the Russian oil exit or the staggering $500 Billion purchase commitment claimed by Washington.

Nirmala Sitharaman, delivers a wide-ranging economic reset focused on income tax restructuring, investment growth and sectoral reforms. The new framework expands tax slabs under the new regime, offering targeted relief for middle-class and upper-middle-income earners while maintaining continuity in both old and new tax structures. The 30&#37 tax bracket now applies only to income above ₹24 lakh, shifting significantly from the earlier ₹15 lakh threshold and delivering major relief to earners in the ₹15–₹24 lakh segment. Price relief is expected across essentials, healthcare imports, personal-use imported goods, energy inputs, education-linked sectors, and manufacturing components due to customs exemptions and duty relaxations. WATCH